Alabama Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) and ex-Navy SEAL Jared Hudson will advance to a runoff in Alabama’s Republican Senate primary.
The outcome amounts to a disappointing shutout for Attorney General Steve Marshall, who, despite a long tenure in elected office, was unable to overcome Hudson’s nascent popularity and President Donald Trump’s support for Moore.
The race became unexpectedly competitive when a late surge in support for Hudson rocketed him into second place in public polling. That boost in popularity proved successful against Marshall’s deep local ties to Republican politics.
The seat became open when Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville announced he would not seek a second term in the Senate, instead opting to run for governor and return home to Alabama. Tuberville has not endorsed in the race that will determine his successor in Washington.
Moore won Trump’s early endorsement in the race, which offered him a needed advantage in the deep-red state. Other notable GOP groups entered the fray behind Moore shortly thereafter, like the powerful super PAC Club for Growth. That’s given the House Republican a significant upper hand in resources, despite having only a slight fundraising advantage over Marshall.
The runoff election is scheduled for June 16.
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